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RAISED MONEY FOR TERRORISTS

Posted on Jul 31, 2015 11:30am PDT

Facilitator and Fundraiser for Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Extradited
to United States to Face Terrorism Charges

Irfan Demirtas, aka Nasrullah, 56, a duel Dutch-Turkish national, recently
made his first appearance in the U.S. District Court of the District of
Columbia on a federal indictment charging him with terrorism offenses
arising from his support of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU),
a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National
Security John P. Carlin, Acting U.S. Attorney Vincent H. Cohen Jr. of
the District of Columbia and Assistant Director in Charge Andrew G. McCabe
of the FBI’s Washington, D.C., Field Office.

“According to the allegations in the indictment, Demirtas provided
material support to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a designated foreign
terrorist organization, through his fundraising and recruiting activities,”
said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Counterterrorism is the
National Security Division’s highest priority and we will continue
to pursue justice against those who provide material support to designated
foreign terrorist organizations.”

“Today Irfan Demirtas was brought into an American courtroom to face
charges that he raised money and recruited fighters for a foreign terrorist
organization battling the Afghan government and its allies, including
U.S. troops,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen. “His extradition
to the United States is an important step forward in holding him accountable
for his alleged role in fomenting terror across Europe and the Middle
East. Demirtas is one of four defendants currently pending trial on international
terrorism charges in separate cases in the federal court here in our nation’s
capital. These cases highlight our resolve to find and bring to justice
those who support terror around the world.”

“Demirtas was arrested and extradited to face justice in the U.S.
because of his role as the European-based fundraiser and recruiter for
a designated terrorist organization that directly worked against U.S.
forces and our allies,” said Assistant Director in Charge McCabe.
“On a daily basis, the FBI is faced with investigating complex cases
that involve terrorist threats. Through international partnerships, the
FBI will continue to pursue those who provide support to terrorist groups
who threaten the security of our nation’s equities around the globe.”

On Dec. 8, 2011, Demirtas was charged in a sealed four-count indictment
for conduct occurring from at least January 2006 through May 2008. Specifically,
he was charged with providing material support to terrorists, which carries
a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; providing material support and
resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries
a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; receiving military-type training
from a foreign terrorist organization, which carries a 10-year prison
sentence; and using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a
crime of violence, which carries up to a mandatory 30-year prison sentence.

During the charged conduct, the IMU was a militant Islamic group acting
as an armed insurgency against the legitimate government of Afghanistan
and its allies, including the armed forces of the United States. The IMU
was designated by the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist
Organization on Sept. 25, 2001. During the conduct charged in the indictment,
Demirtas was a resident of the Netherlands. He was appointed by the IMU
as its European-based fundraiser. He was responsible for raising funds
and recruiting fighters for the IMU. His activities allegedly took place
in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Jordan, the Netherlands, France and
elsewhere outside the United States.

In January 2015, Demirtas was arrested in Germany based on a red notice
that had been issued on these charges. He was detained and then extradited
to the United States on July 17, 2015. The indictment was unsealed today.

An indictment is merely a formal allegation that a defendant has committed
a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent
until, and unless, proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office
and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District
of Columbia and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.